180 Andy Schmelzer says, “The Hail Mary is in the Bible. That is a lie from the pit of hell.” IS ANDY CORRECT?

For all of Andy’s good intention, he just doesn’t know where the prayer the “Hail Mary” is in the Bible. It is true that Hell is in the Bible, but it is not true that the prayer the “Hail Mary” is from the pit of Hell. Andy is quoting from his tradition, not from the Bible.

WHERE IN THE BIBLE IS THE ‘HAIL MARY’ PRAYER? In: The Bible, Catholicism, Virgin Mary from Wiki Answers. From the NRSV translation of the Bible:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Luke 1:28 "And he [the angel Gabriel] came to her [Mary] and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.'"

Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Luke 1:41-42 "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'" “And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will ALL AGES WILL CALL ME BLESSED. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:46).

Holy Mary, mother of God, Mary is the MOTHER OF our LORD (Luke 1:43) who is God (John 20:28). Thus she is called the Mother of God (the Son).

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Catholics ask Mary and other saints to intercede for them to God on their behalf, in much the same way Protestants, Jews and many other religions ask other people to pray for them or for our loved ones. Catholics believe that saints, as paragons of virtue, are particularly well-suited to intercede on a person's behalf.

Mary interceded to Jesus on behalf of the wedding party in Cana. Jesus worked His first miracle (water becomes wine) at the request of Mary in the Bible and because we believe that the Bible is true in all generations, Mary can intercede for us now. Mary’s word about Jesus is also true then and now; “Do whatever He [Jesus] tells you.”

As noted we ask Mary to pray for us like we might ask friends or family to pray for us. In praying for one another (1 Timothy 2:1) the prayer of a just person avails much (James 5:16).

Too add a little more to the above... Many translations of the Greek (Westminster, Spencer, Christian Community Bible, Tyndale etc) read full of grace at Luke 1:28 while some note the literal rendering as endowed/endued with grace (ASV, Amplified etc).

The Saints are very much alive and with God. The concept of DEAD SAINTS in Heaven is not Biblical. Catholics believe people in heaven are more just than those on earth and that they are alive (Matt 22:32). Just because they are in heaven does not mean God shuts them off from us, c.f Matt 17:3, Matt 18:10, Matt 27:52-53 etc. DEAD SAINTS OR ARE THEY. Sometimes people will say to me "Dead Saints can't pray," implying that Mary cannot intercede for us because she is dead. And so I ask the question, "when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, on the mount of Transfiguration were they dead or alive." At this point they usually change the subject.

Saints and Angels do pray for us; Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden censer: and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints, upon the golden altar which is before the throne of God. Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.

Sometimes people will say to me "Dead Saints can't pray," implying that Mary cannot intercede for us because she is dead. And so I ask the question, "when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, on the mount of Transfiguration were they dead or alive." At this point they usually change the subject.

One individual told me that calling Mary blessed is idolatry. However, that is not what the Bible calls it. “And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will ALL AGES WILL CALL ME BLESSED. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:46).

And so I asked her, how do you, in this age, in your church call Mary blessed today. She said that her church does this at Christmas time. I complimented her on her good answer and said that the only difference between her practice and mine is that she calls Mary blessed once a year and I call Mary blessed every time I say the prayer the “Hail Mary.”

People who do not believe in the intercession of the saints and angels simply do not know where the intercession of the saints is located in the Bible.